Lawyer: I'll expose "clients" on list in prostitution case

Friday

Aug 24, 2012 at 7:45 PMAug 24, 2012 at 8:34 PM

KENNEBUNK, Maine — Mark Strong, charged in July with promoting prostitution, had a professional relationship with Kennebunk Zumba instructor Alexis Wright stemming from her desire to become a private investigator, according to his attorney.

Jennifer Feals

KENNEBUNK, Maine — Mark Strong, charged in July with promoting prostitution, had a professional relationship with Kennebunk Zumba instructor Alexis Wright stemming from her desire to become a private investigator, according to his attorney.

Portland-based attorney Daniel Lilley said Friday that his client met Wright out of their shared career interest, invested in her Zumba studio and lent her money. But, Lilley said, evidence will not reveal that Strong paid Wright for sexual relations.

“That’s what prostitution is,” Lilley said. “The johns out there — good luck to them, but he’s not among that group of people, from what I have right now.”

Strong, 56, of Thomaston was charged last month with promotion of prostitution, stemming from an investigation into alleged illegal activity at Wright’s Pura Vida/Zumba studio at 8 York St. and at an alleged massage business she was operating at 1 High St. It’s a charge Lilley is hoping to have dismissed, according to a motion filed Friday in York County Superior Court.

Court documents allege Wright kept meticulous records of sexual acts she performed with men listed as her clients, including some whom she allegedly videotaped without their knowledge. Also in those records are ledgers of sexual acts, video tapes and video of Strong and Wright engaging in sexual activity together, according to an affidavit.

Neither Wright, nor any of her alleged clients, has been charged with any offenses. Wright’s attorney, Sarah Churchill, did not return calls and e-mails for comment before the Portsmouth Herald’s press deadline.

Lilley questioned how his client could be arrested on a charge of prostitution without a prostitute.

“I’ve got a guy charged with promotion of prostitution and there is no prostitute, at least no one charged. My guy’s charged with something that no one else is, and it’s quite unusual. Usually, if everybody’s committed a crime, everybody gets charged at once,” he said. “They claim they are still investigating. Sounds to me like they are a day late and a dollar short.”

Police have said more charges are forthcoming, but Kennebunk Police Chief Bob MacKenzie said neither police nor the York County District Attorney’s Office has released any further information.

“It’s an ongoing investigation, and we need to investigate this completely before we bring forward any charges and we’re still in that investigative stage,” he said.

On Friday, Lilley said he filed a motion to dismiss the case. He charged that prosecutors have failed to comply with the rules of discovery, namely providing evidence to him in a timely fashion. He said evidence will show Strong was hired to investigate Wright’s complaints that she was being harassed by the Kennebunk Police Department, adding evidence will give further detail about a list of 170 to 200 people alleged to be “clients” of Wright’s.

Lilley said he moved the case against Strong to the York County Superior Court in Alfred, where he can have a trial, and a court appearance is scheduled for Oct. 4. Lilley said his client will not plead guilty and he plans to call in any and all of Wright’s alleged clients to testify, if necessary.

He said, “If there’s a trial, they’re all going to be there.”

Lilley said the client list is rumored to include clergymen, doctors, lawyers and police officers, adding he’s been contacted by defense attorneys trying to find out more information about the case.

“If I’m going to trial, and my client’s not pleading guilty to anything, I’m going to call in 178 (alleged johns) and ask them if they ever saw my client doing anything illegal,” Lilley said. “If they are patronizing this place, and it is in fact — though I have no evidence it is — essentially a whore house, I guess, then they take their chances. I don’t want to destroy anybody’s home life or their reputation, but that’s one of the risks, after all, of doing that.”

“I’ve heard there’s quite a group,” Lilley added. “I think it’s hard to predict, but the probabilities are these folks are going to be exposed. No pun intended.”

MacKenzie said any comments made regarding alleged johns is speculation, as law enforcement officials have released no information. “We are continuing to investigate that aspect, and we will continue to. It’s going to take time. There is a lot of information to go through,” he said. “As Mr. Lilley states, he hasn’t seen the list. I don’t know where he’s getting his information from as far as the prominence of that list and who’s on it. Obviously, there are rumors and speculation.”

When investigators searched Strong’s home and place of business, Lilley said, police obtained evidence, including a computer with details of the investigation Strong conducted on Wright’s behalf. On that computer is “supposed to be a report that shows some police improprieties,” Lilley said.

MacKenzie said he has no knowledge of the “improprieties” to which Lilley is referring.

“I will say there’s no improprieties, certainly that I’m aware of, and we’d want to see the evidence of that,” he said. “I think this is once again deflection and a tactic. We’ll stick to our investigation, as we’ve done, and move forward.”

MacKenzie said he understands the community is curious about this case and is looking for more information, but he asked that they be patient.

“I understand that people want to know,” he said, “and in time when this case does progress and when charges are filed against johns is probably the time that those names would become public.”

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